MSPs to scrutinise Scottish Government decision making

Effective decision-making by the Scottish Government is to come under the scrutiny of Holyrood’s Finance & Public Administration Committee. 

It will be the first time a Holyrood committee has considered the overall processes and key skills that are used by the Scottish civil service, and others within the Scottish Government administration, to make decisions. Its main focus will be the decision-making process within the "core" Scottish Government – its directorates, ministers and special advisers. 

The MSPs will examine what constitutes effective decision-making and how this is supported within and across the Scottish Government, in order to understand better the current policy decision-making process used by the Government.

They are therefore seeking views on: What are the key principles and best practice necessary to support effective government decision-making?

They will not however be considering specific decisions by the Scottish Government or any individual cases, nor any matters currently the subject of scrutiny by other parliamentary committees.

Key areas that the committee will seek to explore include:

• transparency of the current approach;
• good practice in decision-making;
• roles and structure;
• process and scrutiny;
• information and analysis;
• recording and reviewing decision-making.

The committee will also seek to identify the skills and key principles necessary to support an effective government decision-making process. 

Read the invitation for views. These should be submitted by 7 February 2023.